Mattress Shopping

Choosing a new mattress is an important decision – you need to be absolutely certain that the mattress you pick is going to be suitable for you, as it could impact your sleep for the next ten or fifteen years! There are many mattress types and sizes of mattresses, so be prepared before you shop.

Know your Budget
The first thing you should do before you head out to shop for mattresses is know how much you’re willing to spend. Check your local mattress stores’ flyers or web sites to see what’s on sale. Make notes of model names and numbers that are within your price range, and when you get to the store, ask to see those specific models.

Look for the Mattress Features, Not Names
Be aware, the name of the mattress means nothing, it’s how the mattress is made that is important. So knowing what is inside the mattress is key, and will save you tons of money. You want to look for a quality made mattress at an unbelievable value. For instance, you don’t want to pay nearly $3,000 for a Serta cool gel, micro pocket spring mattress set that’s exclusive with one company, when you can get the same Serta cool gel micro pocket spring mattress set for $948 with another company.

The following provides basic information on the different types of mattresses available today so that you are better equipped to choose a mattress that meets your needs.

An innerspring mattress
An innerspring mattress uses a steel coil support system. Manufacturers offer several different types of spring systems, including units with springs connected into a single unit and individually wrapped pocketed coils. Spring shapes, designs, coil gauge, and number of coils in a mattress can vary. The innerspring is covered by padding or upholstery materials, which can include various foams, fiber, and additional layers of smaller steel springs. Coil count can be more arbitrary, but the idea is that the greater the number of coils, the more points of support and greater distribution, thus the better the bed can contour and support the sleeper.

Foam Mattresses
Foam mattresses use one or more types of foam as the support system. The foam may be polyurethane foam, memory (or visco elastic) foam, or latex foam, and can contain gel or other materials. The foam used in such mattresses can be manufactured in a variety of shapes and densities to offer consumers a mattress that has different comfort, feel and heat dissipation features. Gel mattresses use a type of foam that contains gel in the product’s support system, upholstery layers, or both. The gel is added to the foam using different types of technology. The gel foam can offer consumers different comfort, feel and heat dissipation features.

Testing Your Mattress
In order for you to know how well you like a mattress, you must test it out in the store. Search around looking for mattresses that meet your criteria, and then lay on each to see how you like them.

Lay on each mattress for at least 2-3 minutes, and up to 15. The floor models are out specifically for this reason, so don’t be hesitant to lay in the store for a bit.

Test the mattress in several sleeping positions, several minutes in each position. Get a feel for how soft or firm it is.

Try a firm, a plush, and a pillow-top mattress to get a feel for which type you prefer. Compare these types all within the same mattress brand to get the most accurate idea of which you like best.

Although floor model mattresses are changed every few weeks, it is important to note, they are tested by customers on a daily basis, so sometimes they may seem softer than the model you receive at home (which is direct from the factory). So you will need to give your mattress a few weeks to soften to your dimensions.

So to recap, before purchasing your mattress set, make sure you do your research and compare the mattress features with the pricing. Make sure you are getting a top quality mattress set that fits your needs all within your budget. Surplus Furniture and Mattress Warehouse carries the top brand names when it comes to mattresses, ranging from a basic inner spring to the top of the line Cool Gel Memory Foam.